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WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Defensive-Minded Spartans Ground Eagles, 95-49, Monday

This is the first meeting since 2019.​

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EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball continues its four-game, season-opening homestand against Eastern Michigan on Monday, Nov. 11 at 6:30 p.m. Monday is the annual Hoops For Troops - Active Military and Veterans receive complimentary admission with presentation of a valid ID. Derrick Mitchell and Serena Schroeder will be on the call for B1G+.

• MSU opened up the season with a dominating 107-42 win over Oakland on Nov. 5. The Spartans followed that up with a 100-44 win against Yale on Nov. 8. Through two games, Michigan State has a scoring margin of +60.5, which is sixth in the nation.

• Eastern Michigan is looking for its first win of the season after a pair of home losses. In their season opener, the Eagles fell to Texas State, 75-71 on Nov. 4. On Nov. 9, EMU lost to Alabama A&M, 66-57.

Theryn Hallock has scored 10 or more points in 19 of her last 27 contests since Nov. 30, 2023, her first double-figure outing last season after scoring in single-digits the first six games of the season.

• In MSU's first two games, all 14 active Spartan players saw the court Tuesday with 13 of the 14 scoring points. The Spartans have five players averaging in double figures, led by junior Grace VanSlooten, who is scoring 17.0 ppg.

SCOUTING EASTERN MICHIGAN
Eastern Michigan lost in its season opener at home to Texas State, 75-71, on Nov. 4. The Eagles fell to 0-2 after losing to Alabama A&M on Nov. 9, 66-57.

The Eagles are led by Elko Sisi who is first on the team in scoring, averaging 22.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. Olivia Westphal is second, scoring 14.5 ppg. As a team, EMU is averaging 64.0 ppg this young season, while allowing 70.5 ppg.

Head coach Sahar Nusseibeh is in her first season at the helm of the Eagles. She holds an overall career record of 32-62.

SERIES HISTORY VS. THE EAGLES
Michigan State leads the overall series with Eastern Michigan 19-3. The Spartans have won the last five meeting between the teams. In East Lansing, MSU holds a record of 13-1. In Ypsilanti, the Spartans are on top 5-1. On neutral territory, the series is tied, 1-1.

The last time the two teams met was in East Lansing in 2019 when MSU came out on top 85-50 on Nov. 5. In the season opener, Michigan State had four players in double figures led by a game-high 23 points from Nia Clouden, who was just four points shy of her then-career high of 27 against Iowa. In her Spartan debut, Alyza Winston added 14 points, while Tory Ozment and Taryn McCutcheon both added 10 points.

DID YOU KNOW??
The Spartans have opened the season 2-0 for the second time in as many seasons under head coach Robyn Fralick. Michigan State also opened 2-0 for the 10th-straight season since going 1-1 to open the 2014-15 season.

CLOSING IN ON 1,000
Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault chipped in with 10 points to round out the four Spartans in double-figures and also register her 40th career game in double-figures. Ayrault posted 10+ points in her 15th-straight game and in 26 of her last 31 games played since the start of the 2023-24 season. With 10 points Friday, Ayrault has now recorded 932 points, just 68 shy of becoming the 31st Spartan women's basketball player to score 1,000 points in her MSU career.

STINGY DEFENSE
The Spartan defense held Yale to single-digit scoring in a quarter in three-straight quarters after holding Oakland to nine points in the fourth quarter on Tuesday and limiting Yale to nine points in the first and second stanzas Friday night. Overall, it's the fourth time that MSU has limited its opponents to single-digit scoring in a quarter along with the second quarter Tuesday night. The Spartans have also held the opposition to 10 points or less in six of the eight quarters this season.

SEASON OPENERS
Michigan State won its 11th-straight season-opener and second in a row under head coach Robyn Fralick. MSU's last season-opening loss was on Nov. 11, 2013 at #6/7 Notre Dame. The Spartans have won 15-consecutive home openers, as their last loss in the first home game of the season was on Nov. 19, 2009 vs. #5/6 Notre Dame.

STICKY FINGERS
Michigan State forced 33 Oakland turnovers, including swiping 22 steals, with 11 of the 14 Spartans posting at least one steal. Graduate guard Nyla Hampton led the way with a game-high five steals. Four Spartans swiped multiple steals as Hampton was followed by four from senior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate, three by graduate guard Jaddan Simmons and two each by junior forward Grace VanSlooten and junior guard Abbey Kimball. The 22 steals were just shy of the school record of 24 set in both 1980 and 1996.

BRINGING THE BOOM
For the 2024-25 season, Michigan State women's introduced its new student section - the Breslin Boom. First introduced by Coach Fralick at Michigan State Madness, Spartan students will be encouraged to yell "BOOM" on any big MSU plays.

WELCOME TO THE BRESLIN CENTER
All six of the Spartan freshmen saw action against Yale on Nov. 8. Redshirt-freshman guard Kennedy Blair scored in double figures for the second-straight game with 12 points and seven rebounds. Center Mary Meng scored eight points, while forward Juliann Woodard added six points. Inés Sotelo added six points and three steals.

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE
Michigan State will play seven teams that are ranked in the preseason top 25 polls (AP/Coaches Poll), led by No. 3/3 USC (Feb. 16) and No. 5/6 UCLA (Feb. 19). At the West Palm Beach Classic, the Spartans will take on No. 24/25 Alabama. Big Ten teams Ohio State (No. 14/14), Maryland (No. 18/18), Nebraska (No. 23/23) and Indiana (No. 25/24) are all ranked in the preseason polls.

AROUND THE NATION
After just two games, the Spartans are second in the nation in assists per game, averaging 25.0 apg. MSU is also 10th in bench points with 46.5 per game. Michigan State stands fifth in scoring margin, winning games by 60.5 ppg.

BLAIR BRINGS THE BOOM
Redshirt-freshman guard Kennedy Blair netted 12 points against Yale on Nov. 8 to register double-figures for the second outing in as many games as a Spartan after 10 points in her Green & White debut against Oakland on Nov. 5 after missing the entire 2023-24 season with an injury. Blair also pulled down seven rebounds, swiped three steals and dished out one assists, new top marks for rebounds and steals.

LAST TIME OUT
For the second-straight game, the Michigan State women's basketball team reached the 100-point mark, defeating Yale, 100-44, Friday night at the Breslin Center.

The Spartans have opened 2-0 for the second time in as many seasons under head coach Robyn Fralick. Michigan State also opened 2-0 for the 10th-straight season since going 1-1 to open the 2014-15 season. Yale falls to 1-1 with the loss.

Once again, MSU was led junior forward Grace VanSlooten, who led all scorers with 19 points with five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Junior guard Theryn Hallock scored 13 points, while redshirt-freshman guard Kennedy Blair was once again stellar off the bench with 12 points and seven rebounds.

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick has announced guard/forward Julia Ayrault and guard Nyla Hampton as team captains, as voted on by the players on the 2024-25 women's basketball team.

This is Ayrault's second season as a captain for the Spartans. She is the first Spartan to be a captain in back-to-back seasons since Jenna Allen during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.

Hampton is in her first season with the Spartans, but is familiar with head coach Robyn Fralick. She played three seasons with Bowling Green before transferring to Ball State last season.

GUESS WHO'S BACK
Despite losing two of its top three scorers, Michigan State still returns a quite potent offense. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault led the team in scoring with 15.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Off the bench, junior guard Theryn Hallock scored 12.3 ppg, which was fourth on the team. MSU lost second-leading scorer Moira Joiner (14.7 ppg) to graduation and third-leading scorer DeeDee Hagemann (12.3 ppg) to transfer.

VANSLOOTEN NAMED TO WATCH LIST
Michigan State Women's Basketball junior forward Grace VanSlooten was named to the Cheryl Miller Award preseason watch list, as announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).

She is one of five Big Ten players on the list along with Indiana's Yarden Garzon, Maryland's Saylor Poffenbarger, Ohio State's Cotie McMahon and UCLA's Angela Dugalić. The award honors the nation's top small forwards.

VanSlooten is in her first season at Michigan State after transferring from Oregon. She averaged 14.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in two season with the Ducks. In the Spartans 101-40 exhibition win over Wayne State on Oct. 28, Van Slooten tied a team high with 16 points in just 18 minutes.

LOOKING AT THE SCHEDULE
For the fourth-straight season, the Big Ten Conference will play an 18-game schedule. MSU also played an 18-game schedule in both 2018-19 and 2019-20. The conference additionally had 18-game schedules in both 2015-16 and 2014-15. This season, the B1G adds four additional teams in Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington.

Nine of the Spartans' 2024-25 regular-season opponents competed in the NCAA Tournament last season, as MSU will take on either Arizona or Vanderbilt in the Acrisure Classic. From the Big Ten portion of the schedule, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, UCLA and USC reached the NCAA Tournament.

COASTAL ADVENTURES
The Spartans will play in two tournaments this season. Over Thanksgiving, Michigan State will head to Palm Springs, California for the Acrisure Classic. The Spartans will take on California in their first game on Nov. 26 before facing either Arizona or Vanderbilt in their second game on Nov. 27. Before the Holiday break, MSU will play West Palm Beach Classic. MSU will take on Montana on Dec. 19 and Alabama on Dec. 20.

Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.

FOOTBALL COACH SMITH PRESS CONFERENCE: Chiles is Ready, Optimism about recent injuries, Expect a New Scheme/wrinkle, and wanting to Finish Strong.

Jonathan Smith Press Conference

1) The team practiced full pads yesterday and liked what he saw and they got a lot done during the bye week, including recruiting.

2) Smith says Aidan Chiles practiced yesterday, so he feels confident about his ability to play against Illinois.

3) Charles Brantley and Malik Spencer will be re-evaluated at the end of the week.

4) "Optimistic" about Anthony Jones.

5) NOTE: Chiles, Brantley, Spencer, and Jones got hurt vs. Indiana before the bye week.

6) Smith says Chance Rucker and Dillon Tatum are "doubtful" about returning this season.

7) Smith says the team understands they have much to play for this month. They're excited about the opportunity to compete for a bowl bid. Smith: "We talk about wanting to be a program known for finishing" in the final three games.

8) Smith on both MSU and Illinois coming off a bye week: "Gives you a little bit more time to plan, maybe implement a new scheme or two. We're aware of that potential, but we won't chase ghosts."

9) Smith says WR Jaron Glover got some reps and will be evaluated this week.

OTHER SCHOOLS: QB's Noah Kim, Katin Houser, Sam Leavitt UPDATE: Kim, Houser, Leavitt this season 60.8 %, for 35 Touchdown passes and 11 interceptions.

Highly touted QB Eddie Vasko was 3-10 passing for 10 yards before he was benched and Coastal Carolina was trailing 14-0 to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Kim came in and was fairly sharp and finished the game going 16-25 for 182 yards passing and two touchdowns.

“We recruited Noah for a reason. He’s a good player, and to give him an opportunity to come in, and he did a really good job.”


Read more at: https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/s...niversity/article294230479.html#storylink=cpy

RECRUITING 2026 WR/TE Julius Miles discusses recent Michigan State offer

Recently, Michigan State became the latest program to offer 2026 wide receiver/tight end Julius Miles.

Miles had been in contact with MSU tight ends coach/recruiting coordinator Brian Wozniak and student scouting/personnel assistant Carsen Kapilovic (who is the son of former MSU offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic) for quite a while before the offer came through. The Spartans have been using this fall as a time to evaluate prospects, including Miles.

"I know a good bit about Michigan State," Miles said. "It has a great, rich culture. I think I could fit because of my style of play I bring — being able to go get the ball at my position."

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OTHER MSU SPORTS Six Spartans Earn All-Region Honors at Great Lakes Cross Country Regional Championships

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Great Lake Regional Championships
Date:
Friday, Nov. 15
Time: Women's 6k Race - 11 a.m.
Men's 8k Race - 12 p.m.
All time Eastern
Location: Silver Creek Metro Park (Norton, Ohio)

EAST LANSING, MICH. - Michigan State's cross country teams will travel to Norton, Ohio for the 2024 Great Lakes Regional Championships on Friday, Nov. 15, hosted by the Mid-American Conference.

The women's 6k race will begin at 11 a.m. ET, while the men's 10k race will start at 12 p.m. ET. The race will take place at Silver Creek Metro Park, which is the second oldest park district in Ohio. There is no cost for parking.

The top-2 finishers at each of the nine regional races taking place Friday will be granted a bid. Thirteen other teams will be assessed for the remaining at-large bids which will be announced in the selection show Saturday, Nov. 16 at 5 p.m.

The Spartan women finished sixth in the Big Ten Championships in Champaign, Illinois on Nov. 1. Rachel Forsyth finished fourth with a stunning time of 19:26.2. It was the best time for a Spartan in a 6k Big Ten Championship, just besting All-American Leah O'Connor, who ran a 19:26.3 to win the 2014 title. By finishing fourth, the freshman earned first-team All-Big Ten honors. She was later named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

The Ann Arbor native was the first Spartan to win the award since Kaitlyn Hynes in 2021 and Maggie Farrell in 2017. She is only the sixth Michigan State woman to be named the top Big Ten rookie in program history.

In the men's 8k race, Michigan State finished fourth. All five of the Michigan State scorers recorded new personal-best times. For the second-straight season, Andrew Nolan took home first-team All-B1G honors. This season, he finished eighth with a time of 22:59.3, which was a new personal best. Riley Hough crossed the line in 23:08.4, which was good for 18th. For his efforts, Hough was named second-team All-Big Ten.

Last season, the women took third place in the Great Lake Regionals, while the men were fifth. Last year was the second time in the last three years that seven Spartans between both teams claimed the All-Region honors and the 13th time in the last 15 seasons with six plus runners earned the accolade.

Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.

OTHER MSU SPORTS Cross country regionals

I know you will put up a story on this but both teams did well at regionals. The guys tied for third but we're regulated to 4th through the tie breaker rules. The ladies finished 4th also, just out of 3rd. These were very good efforts based on how young each team is. Great days are ahead. It remains to be seen if either team goes to nationals as 2 teams from each region qualifies automatically with a few at large picks granted. Even so, there should be a handful of kids go as individuals. I am shocked at the incredible times being run this year. With ladies a sub 20 used to get you on the podium but this year in big meet after big meet there are multiple girls running those times. Same is true with the guys and sub 24. I have never seen such great times in the 30 years I have followed the sport and have no explanation for it except the better than usual fall weather for training and competing.

FOOTBALL Spartans Illustrated Staff Picks: Michigan State vs. Illinois

Michigan State and Illinois both enter with two-game losing streaks. Which team will get back on track? Check out our picks and let us know your thoughts!

HOCKEY Friday recap: No. 4 MSU Hockey beats Notre Dame 8-3 in an impressive offensive showing

Full recap of MSU's 8-3 win over Notre Dame.

By @Caden Handwork:

FOOTBALL Game Preview: Michigan State vs. Illinois

Michigan State is fighting to win at least two of its final three regular-season games and reach bowl eligibility. That challenge starts tomorrow afternoon at Illinois.

@KLuce98 previews everything you need to know for the matchup here:

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WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Second-Half Surge Sends Spartans Past Colonels Thursday

This is the first meeting between the teams.​

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EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball concludes its four-game, season-opening homestand against Eastern Kentucky University on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Breslin Center. Matt Merrifield and Joe DesVergnes will be on the call for B1G+.

• MSU has opened 3-0 for the second time in as many seasons under head coach Robyn Fralick. Michigan State also started 3-0 for the 10th-straight season since going 2-1 to open the 2014-15 season.

• Eastern Kentucky University is 1-2 this season this season after earning its first win of the season on the road against Southern Illinois, 70-49. The Colonels fell to then No. 7 LSU and Tennessee State to start the season. This is the first-ever meeting between MSU and EKU.

• The Spartan defense also forced 29+ turnovers for the third game in a row, forcing 29 EMU turnovers Monday night, after 31 last time out vs. Yale and forcing Oakland into 33 miscues in the season-opener

• Early on this season, Michigan State is fifth in the nation in assists, averaging 24.7 apg. The Spartans are also seventh in the nation in scoring margin (+55.7). Through three games, MSU is still averaging over 100 points per game.

SCOUTING EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
Eastern Kentucky University earned its first win of the season with a 70-49 road victory over Southern Illinois.

The Colonels have one Michigander on the roster in Grand Rapids native Faith Walker. She attended Forest Hills Northern. Abbey Kimball and Theryn Hallock are both from Grand Rapids, attending West Catholic and Forest Hills Central, respectively.

Senior Raphaela Toussaint is approaching the 1,000 point mark. She currently has 997 points during her career. Alice Recanti leads the team in scoring, averaging 9.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Kaitlyn Costner is second with 9.0 ppg.

Head coach Greg Todd is in his fourth season with the Colonels, holding a 56-44 record. Overall, he is in his 19th season with an overall record of 318-214.

SERIES HISTORY VS. THE COLONELS
This is the first-ever meeting between MSU and EKU.

DID YOU KNOW??
MSU has opened 3-0 for the second time in as many seasons under head coach Robyn Fralick. Michigan State also started 3-0 for the 10th-straight season since going 2-1 to open the 2014-15 season.

CLOSING IN ON 1,000
Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault scored 13 points against Eastern Michigan on Nov. 11. It was her third double-digit scoring outing in as many games this season and her 41st career outing with 10+ points. She has scored in double-figures in 16-consecutive games and in 27 of her last 32 games played since the start of the 2023-24 season. With 13 points on Nov. 11, Ayrault now has netted 945 career points, leaving her just 55 away from becoming the 31st Spartan women's basketball player to score 1,000 points in her MSU career.

STINGY DEFENSE
The Spartan defense limited the opposition to single-digit scoring in a quarter for the seventh time in 12 quarters through three games this season after holding EMU to nine points in the third quarter on Monday. MSU held Yale to nine points in both the first and second quarters last time out and to Oakland in the second and fourth quarter.

INCREDIBLE INES
All six of the Spartan freshmen have seen action in all three games, but rookie Inés Sotelo had a standout performance against Eastern Michigan on Nov. 11. Sotelo reached double figures for the first time in her MSU career with 13 points against the Eagles, going 5-for-8 from the field. For the season, she is averaging 7.0 points with four steals.

PUTTING UP THE POINTS
Michigan State scored 95+ points for the third-straight game after 107 in last week's season-opener vs. Oakland on Nov. 5 and 100 points vs. Yale on Nov. 8. It marks the first time since the 2017-18 season that MSU has scored 95+ points in its first three games when the Spartans matched this year's scoring with 100 points in the season-opener (100-58 vs. Robert Morris on 11/11/17), 95 in game two (95-63 vs. Oakland on 11/13/17) and 107 in game three (107-43 vs. Charleston).

BLAIR BRINGS THE BOOM
Against Eastern Michigan on Nov. 11, redshirt-freshman guard Kennedy Blair scored in double-figures for the third-straight game with 11 points Monday, after 12 points last time out and 10 points in the season-opener, which was her Green & White debut on Nov. 5, after missing the entire 2023-24 season with an injury. Blair also pulled down seven rebounds, swiped three steals and dished out one assists, new top marks for rebounds and steals.

WATCH OUT FOR THE SPARTANS
Michigan State continues to wrack up the steals early on this season. MSU is eighth in the nation, averaging 19.3 spg. Against EMU, MSU had 18 steals. Graduate guard Nyla Hampton and senior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate are tied for fourth in the Big Ten, averaging 3.0 spg.

The Spartans forced 33 Oakland turnovers, including swiping 22 steals, with 11 of the 14 Spartans posting at least one steal. by The 22 steals were just shy of the school record of 24 set in both 1980 and 1996.

BRINGING THE BOOM
For the 2024-25 season, Michigan State women's introduced its new student section - the Breslin Boom. First introduced by Coach Fralick at Michigan State Madness, Spartan students will be encouraged to yell "BOOM" on any big MSU plays.

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE
Michigan State will play seven teams that are ranked in the preseason top 25 polls (AP/Coaches Poll), led by No. 3/3 USC (Feb. 16) and No. 5/6 UCLA (Feb. 19). At the West Palm Beach Classic, the Spartans will take on No. 24/25 Alabama. Big Ten teams Ohio State (No. 14/14), Maryland (No. 18/18), Nebraska (No. 23/23) and Indiana (No. 25/24) are all ranked in the preseason polls.

AROUND THE NATION
After just three games, the Spartans are fifth in the nation and first in the Big Ten in assists per game, averaging 24.7 apg. MSU is also eighth in bench points with 45.0 per game. Michigan State stands seventh and first in the Big Ten in scoring margin, winning games by 55.7 ppg.

SEASON OPENERS
Michigan State won its 11th-straight season-opener and second in a row under head coach Robyn Fralick. MSU's last season-opening loss was on Nov. 11, 2013 at #6/7 Notre Dame. The Spartans have won 15-consecutive home openers, as their last loss in the first home game of the season was on Nov. 19, 2009 vs. #5/6 Notre Dame.

LAST TIME OUT
Michigan State women's basketball once again flexed its defensive muscles, forcing 29 turnovers en route to a 95-49 win against Eastern Michigan on Monday night at the Breslin Center. Monday was also the Spartans annual Hoops for Troops to honor Veterans Day.

MSU has opened 3-0 for the second time in as many seasons under head coach Robyn Fralick. Michigan State also started 3-0 for the 10th-straight season since going 2-1 to open the 2014-15 season. Eastern Michigan falls to 0-3 this season. The was the first time that the teams met since 2019.
Junior guard Theryn Hallock scored led the Spartans with 18 points in just over 18 minutes. She also added four assists and two steals. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault and freshman center Inés Sotelo both scored 13 points. The 13 points were the first double-digit scoring game for the freshman. Redshirt-freshman guard Kennedy Blair reached double figures for the third-straight game with 11 points. Graduate guard Jaddan Simmons made her first Spartan start, adding eight points six assists and four steals.

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick has announced guard/forward Julia Ayrault and guard Nyla Hampton as team captains, as voted on by the players on the 2024-25 women's basketball team.

This is Ayrault's second season as a captain for the Spartans. She is the first Spartan to be a captain in back-to-back seasons since Jenna Allen during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.
Hampton is in her first season with the Spartans, but is familiar with head coach Robyn Fralick. She played three seasons with Bowling Green before transferring to Ball State last season.

GUESS WHO'S BACK
Despite losing two of its top three scorers, Michigan State still returns a quite potent offense. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault led the team in scoring with 15.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Off the bench, junior guard Theryn Hallock scored 12.3 ppg, which was fourth on the team. MSU lost second-leading scorer Moira Joiner (14.7 ppg) to graduation and third-leading scorer DeeDee Hagemann (12.3 ppg) to transfer.

VANSLOOTEN NAMED TO WATCH LIST
Michigan State Women's Basketball junior forward Grace VanSlooten was named to the Cheryl Miller Award preseason watch list, as announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).

She is one of five Big Ten players on the list along with Indiana's Yarden Garzon, Maryland's Saylor Poffenbarger, Ohio State's Cotie McMahon and UCLA's Angela Dugalić. The award honors the nation's top small forwards.

VanSlooten is in her first season at Michigan State after transferring from Oregon. She averaged 14.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in two season with the Ducks. In the Spartans 101-40 exhibition win over Wayne State on Oct. 28, Van Slooten tied a team high with 16 points in just 18 minutes.

LOOKING AT THE SCHEDULE
For the fourth-straight season, the Big Ten Conference will play an 18-game schedule. MSU also played an 18-game schedule in both 2018-19 and 2019-20. The conference additionally had 18-game schedules in both 2015-16 and 2014-15. This season, the B1G adds four additional teams in Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington.

Nine of the Spartans' 2024-25 regular-season opponents competed in the NCAA Tournament last season, as MSU will take on either Arizona or Vanderbilt in the Acrisure Classic. From the Big Ten portion of the schedule, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, UCLA and USC reached the NCAA Tournament.

COASTAL ADVENTURES
The Spartans will play in two tournaments this season. Over Thanksgiving, Michigan State will head to Palm Springs, California for the Acrisure Classic. The Spartans will take on California in their first game on Nov. 26 before facing either Arizona or Vanderbilt in their second game on Nov. 27. Before the Holiday break, MSU will play West Palm Beach Classic. MSU will take on Montana on Dec. 19 and Alabama on Dec. 20.

Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.
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RECRUITING Tentative list of early enrollees for Michigan State's 2025 class

With the early signing period moved up to Dec. 4 this year, the class of 2025 recruiting cycle will become more clear very soon. Michigan State currently has 15 scholarship commits (and one preferred walk-on commit) and will look to add a few more before the early signing period, and perhaps more during the traditional signing period in February as well. I have heard from a few of Michigan State's class of 2025 commits and wanted to start a quick thread on who is tentatively planning to enroll early.

Note that things can change here (names could be added or current prospects on the list could change their minds about enrolling early), but as of now, this is who is expecting to enroll at MSU in January:

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What if Bear Bryant fiction was added to Tommy Love story?

What if someone took The Tommy Love Story and added some Bear Bryant fiction and the fairytale caught on with the media to spread nationally? Would Tommy Love be as well-known as Sam Cunningham, the beneficiary of a fabricated Bear Bryant story? That’s the question I raise here after reading – of all books – Al Pacino’s memoir. Read on and you’ll see what I mean.

I cite a national name saying his young audience wouldn't understand Duffy Daugherty's story. Other editors agreed Bear Bryant gets too much credit, but they don't apparently are afraid to take on his legacy. As a consequence, Duffy's true story remains lost in the shadows of Bear Bryant fiction.

The Tommy Love Story is compelling, but ESPN, Sports Illustrated, HBO, Showtime et al aren't buying without adding a Bear Bryant myth - Tom Shanahan Report


Follow me on Twitter @shanny4055

Visit my website home page

Award-winning Sportswriter - Tom Shanahan Report

RECRUITING Michigan State men's basketball signs two top-100 prospects in 2025 class

Michigan State men's basketball has officially signed two top-100 prospects in the 2025 class: Jordan Scott and Cam Ward.

Read head coach Tom Izzo’s thoughts on the Spartan signees and learn more about the prospects here:

FOOTBALL MSU's Nick Marsh and Courtney Hawkins discuss postseason possibilities

Nick Marsh and Courtney Hawkins spoke to the media following the Spartans’ bye week/ahead of Illinois.

“It’s going to take everyone on our football team to pitch in and give energy so we can win out the rest of the season.”

FOOTBALL Q&A with Orange and Blue News: What is the state of the Illinois program?

Michigan State (4-5 overall, 2-4 in Big Ten play) travels to Champaign to play Illinois (6-3 overall, 3-3 in Big Ten play) on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time/1:30 p.m. Central Time, with the game airing live on FS1. Both teams are coming of a bye week, but riding two-game losing streaks.

Ahead of the matchup, Spartans Illustrated spoke with Doug Bucshon of Orange and Blue News — Rivals' home for all things Illinois — to learn more about the Fighting Illini.

What is the current state of the Illinois football program? How is head coach Bret Bielema perceived by the fan base? Why have the Illini struggled on defense? Doug answers these questions and more.

FOOTBALL MSU's Chad Wilt, Wayne Matthews III, and Nikai Martinez looking ahead to Illini

Fresh off of a bye week, Michigan State football is looking to finish the season strong and become bowl-eligible. MSU's rush ends coach Chad Wilt, linebacker Wayne Matthews III, and defensive back Nikai Martinez spoke about the game this Saturday against Illinois and the team's outlook heading into the rest of the season.

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